• by Teresa Buyikian , 2 hours ago

A global pizza chain and a cult favorite bagel brand have come together for a limited-time collab that brings popular pizza-side flavors to a bagel schmear.

PopUp Bagels has taken two Papa John’s “flavor signatures,” its pepperoncini and special garlic sauce,  and created two limited-time schmears “crafted for ripping, dipping and repeating.”

“Few menu items inspire the kind of loyalty and love that our Special Garlic Sauce and signature pepperoncini do,”  turning both “into cultural calling cards for our brand,” said Shivram Vaideeswaran, senior vice president of brand marketing at Papa Johns, in a release.   

The Pepperoncini Schmear drops at all PopUp Bagel locations  Aug. 27 and is described as “a craveable mix of pickle-forward zing, subtle heat and creamy richness.” This will be followed up with Special Garlic Sauce Butter, launching Sept. 3, which takes the buttery garlic flavor from Papa Johns’ popular side sauce and turns it into a schmear.

“The best collaborations start with flavors people already know and love, then give them a reason to experience them differently,”  thus “creating something that’s equal parts thoughtfully crafted and irresistibly unexpected,” said Adam Goldberg, founder of PopUp Bagels, in a release. 

On Sept. 3, PopUp Bagels will hold a one day “pop-up” in-store at Papa Johns in Atlanta, where customers can try the limited edition schmears with free bagels.